This time last year the roar of the greatest ever Paralympics was only just beginning to fade. I was thrilled to have won three Golds for Team GB in the equestrian category.
What helped me win? The amazing crowds for sure, the spirit of people across our country coming together to cheer us all on. The trainers and coaches who’ve worked with me tirelessly. My incredible horse, Rio! My friends and family who have supported me through every high and low.
And something else... social care.
In this country when we think of “care” we tend to think of old people. But lots of us – one-third of the people who use care in fact – are working age adults. And we rely on it to live independent lives.
Social care can often be fairly invisible in society. It’s hardworking, often low-paid carers behind closed doors, supporting those of us who need it to do the basics in life – like getting washed, dressed and out of the house. And if you can’t do those things, what can you do?
It was so important to me to fulfil my ambitions and win Gold last year. Everyone in Britain has hopes and ambitions for their life – and social care is vital support to enable them to do it. Whether it’s studying, working or taking part in the community, so many things begin with good care and support.
As a Paralympian, you could look at me and think my life is all sorted, but I still struggle to get the right funding and support. If it’s tough for me as a high-profile figure, what is it like for other people?
It is shocking to discover that even in Britain in 2013, just a year on from the Paralympics, there are tens of thousands of disabled people being denied any basic support at all – not even able to get up in the morning and get out into the outside world.
Why are people being shut out of the care system? One of the biggest factors is the ‘eligibility threshold’: where the bar is set that decides who gets care and who doesn’t. Until now, it’s been set on a council-by-council basis, a postcode lottery that leaves many people unsure whether they’ll get the care they need or not. That’s about to change.
The Care Bill is currently in Parliament and the Government, rightly, has said we need to set one threshold nationally for who gets social care. The problem is, right now where they’re proposing to set it will deny more than 100,000 disabled people the care and support they need. There’s still a chance to fix this, to set it at the right level, and I’d like to see all three parties speaking up for this.
Together we can make Britain a place where all disabled people have the chance to live their lives. Every one of us can and should have the support we need. Let’s make sure the spirit of the Paralympics was more than one month last summer.